Cadillac could be in the driving seat now De Foy has got to work on him

Saturday: 1.50 Newburybet365 Stakes (Listed) | 3yo+ | 1m2f | ITV/RTV

Cadillac was the talk of the town at the start of Royal Ascot week. He was purchased for £500,000 the night before the meeting and lined up the hot favourite for the Wolferton Stakes.

Kevin Philippart de Foy was named as the trainer on the racecard, but it was Jessica Harrington who did all the hard yards of preparation and Cadillac almost gave De Foy a first victory at the royal meeting when finding only Dubai Future too good.

De Foy has now had more time to work with Cadillac, so can he coax some more improvement from the lightly raced four-year old?

Cadillac might not need to improve to win. His career-high Racing Post Rating of 116 puts him on equal footing with Desert Encounter, Grocer Jack and Tasman Bay judged on best figures in the last 12 months, and that is true even when you include Cadillac’s 3lb penalty.

Grocer Jack is also trying to make his name for a new yard. He has run only twice for William Haggas, having formerly been trained by Waldemar Hickst in Germany, and he equalled his best RPR in Europe when fifth on his debut for Haggas at Riyadh in February.

He failed to build on that back in Europe at Chantilly last time, but maybe the mile-and-a-half trip stretched him that day and he looks Cadillac’s biggest danger over two furlongs shorter.

The final word must go to Desert Encounter, who has an exemplary course record which reads 12312, with one of those runner-up finishes coming in this race four years ago. He’s ten years old and returns from 259 days off, but has run well on his last two starts after a break.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Encounter out of retirement

Veteran Desert Encounter returns for his 49th start and first outing as a ten-year-old for David Simcock in the five-runner contest after all attempts to retire the globetrotter failed.

Desert Encounter is the winner of 12 races, including two at Grade 1 level in Canada, and has amassed nearly £1.2 million in prize-money. Most Flat performers of his quality and age would be enjoying a well-earned retirement in a paddock somewhere, but not Desert Encounter, who first set foot on a racecourse as a two-year-old at Brighton in 2014.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Desert Encounter's owner Abdulla Al Mansoori said: "We tried to retire him last year but he didn't take it very well as he picked grass for half an hour in his paddock and then wanted to come in. David said the horse was happier in work even if he's just tootling around so he's back."

He added: "He's not going to break the record for the number of runs for a ten-year-old, but the plan is to follow the same pattern as before. He'll go to Windsor after this for the race he finished second in last year and maybe the race in Canada again [Canadian International]. I know it's a long way to take a ten-year-old but he thrives over there and always comes good at the backend of the season.

"He doesn't have anything to lose and doesn't owe anyone anything as he's won a million quid already."

What they say

Jack Mitchell, rider of Cadillac
I didn’t ride him at Royal Ascot as I was already committed to another horse but he ran well there and he worked nicely when I rode him on the watered gallop the other morning. It looks a tricky race but he goes there with a good shout overall.

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Finest Sound
It’s a tight little race but he’ll like the ground and also going left-handed. He goes there in good form and has plenty going for him at a track that should play to his strengths.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read more of Saturday's previews:

2.35 Curragh: 'She has a perfect draw and is in serious order' - who likes their Scurry hope?

2.56 Newbury: Happy again? Romance out to win consecutive runnings of Group 3 Hackwood Stakes

3.10 Curragh: Mooneista 'better than last year' as she bids for Sapphire follow-up

3.14 Market Rasen: 'I can't separate them' - Bowen saddles two as he eyes an eighth Summer Plate

3.30 Newbury: 'She's an exciting prospect' - Super Sprint trainer quotes and analysis

3.45 Curragh: Jessica Harrington and Aidan O'Brien on their Irish Oaks contenders

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